GEOS 190 – The Geology of Wine (2 credits) -- Spring 2015
Instructor: Michael Whalen, Office: REIC 332, phone: 474-5302,
e-mail: mtwhalen@alaska.edu
Lecture: W 6:00-9:00, 233 REIC
Lab: W 6:00-9:00, xxx HUTCH
Office hours: TR 4:00 - 5:00 PM, or by appointment.
The geology of an area can have tremendous impacts on the climate, topography, and
soils that develop at the Earth’s surface. Plate tectonics and Earth surface processes
are thus important controls on the agricultural potential of an area. This course explores
the relationship between geology, climate, and viticulture. Aspects of geology that
influence landscape, soil development and climate are evaluated in reference to their
effects on wine-growing regions. The geology, tectonic setting, soil and climate of
individual wine-growing areas will be explored through lectures, discussions, class
projects/presentation, and lab wine tastings. Grape vines can survive for decades and
are intimately tied to the land they occupy. This leads to the concept of “terroir,” a
French term that embodies all of the influences on grapes grown in a particular region.
Changes in bedrock, topography, soils, and climate will have a tremendous impact on
the flavor profile of any wine.
In this course we will explore the interrelationships between geology and wine. The first
several weeks of the course will provide an introduction to the most important aspects of
geology with reference to how it influences viticulture. With a basic background in
geoscience we will then delve into the relationship between geology, climate and the
soils that provided the growing medium for vineyards. Once the requisite background in
geoscience is established we will explore the major viticultural regions of the world from
the perspective of their geology and terroir.
There is no directly applicable textbook for the course so none is required. Required
readings for the course will be available on Blackboard < https://classes.uaf.edu>.
Instructional Methods
In the classroom you will be exposed to a combination of traditional lectures, quizzes,
hands-on exercises, and student presentations. In lab you will have the opportunity to
explore the relationship to geology and wine through a series of targeted wine tastings
that will either juxtapose wines from very different regions or explore the complexities of
the terroir of local areas.
Course Goals
The general goal of the course is for students to develop a basic understanding of the
physical structure of the Earth and Earth surface processes with reference to the effects
on wine growing regions. Students will develop an appreciation of the influences on
wine growing by tasting wines from specific regions.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will be required to develop a general understanding of geology including the
basics of plate tectonics, rocks and minerals, the relationship between geology and
climate, soil development, sedimentary environments and the influence of all on wine
growing regions. In addition students will explore the geologic setting of specific regions
as part of individual research in preparation for in-class presentations. The lab portion
of the course is intended to assist students in developing an understanding of the
influence of changing geology, climate, and soils on wine growing and thus the flavor
profile of wines from specific regions.
Schedule
Topic
Introduction: Plate Tectonics and Viticultural
Regions
Lab 1: Introduction to Wine Tasting and Terroir
Minerals
Lab 2: Exploring varietals and blends
Rocks, Climate, Weathering, and Soils:
Fundamentals of Terroir
Quiz
Feb. 26
Lab 3. Tasting the Influence of geology and
climate on Wine
X
Mar. 4
Old World Terroir: Germany, France
Student Presentations
Mar. 11
Lab 4: Old World vs. New World
Mar. 18
Mar. 25
Spring Break
Old World Terroir: Italy, Spain
Student Presentations
Lab 5: Tasting Terroir: Old World
Date
Jan. 21
Jan. 28
Feb. 4
Feb. 11
Feb. 19
Apr. 1
X
Apr. 8
New World Terroir
Student Presentations
Apr. 15
Apr. 22
Lab 6: Tasting Terroir: Northern New World
Terroir and Global Change
Student Presentations
Lab 7: Tasting Terroir: Southern New World
Apr. 29
X
Required Reading
Kious & Tiliing, 1996
Huggett, 2005
CK-12 Minerals
CK-12 Ch. Rocks
CK-12 Weathering &
Soils, Van Leeuwen
et al., 2004;
Swinchatt & Howell,
2004, p. 73-104
CK-12 Weathering &
Soils
Swinchatt & Howell,
2004, p. 105-123
Wilson, 1998, p. 854, MacNeil, 2001,
p. 511-554
Wilson, 1998, p.
185-213
MacNeil, 2001, p.
315-478
MacNeil, 2001, p.
315-478
Swinchatt & Howell,
2004, p. 11-60
Gregutt, 2010, p. 339
Alden, 2012
Bauer, 2007,
Hertsgaard, 2010
Sommers, 2012, p.
156-174.
May 6
Final Exam
All readings available via Blackboard: https://classes.uaf.edu/. A few of the readings will be
locked pdfs and the password for these files is: gr8 wine
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Course Policies
Attendance is mandatory but two unexcused absences or those with a
reasonable medical or other excuse are permitted. Students should arrive on
time and participate in class discussions. Students are required to adhere to the
UAF Student Code of Conduct. Please turn off all electronic and mobile devices
during class.
Evaluation
Grading will be on a Pass-Fail basis. Evaluation will be based on attendance (15%),
student performance on quizzes (15%), class participation and class exercises (20%),
presentations (40%), and summaries of lab observations (10%) about specific wines.
Quizzes will be short and held at the beginning of each class where noted in the
syllabus. They will be multiple choice or short answer questions dealing with material
covered in previous class sessions. Grades will be based on absolute scores on the
exercises described above. Grade equivalent of a “C” or better will be required to obtain
a passing grade.
Class Presentations
All students will give two class presentations, each of which will make up 20% of the
final grade for the course. Each presentation will be 15-20 minutes in length and will
explore both the geology and viticulture of specific wine growing regions. The goal of
the presentations is to demonstrate the relationship of the geologic setting to landscape
and soil development, climate and microclimate, and the types of grapes that can be
grown in a region. Please submit a short (1 page) summary of your presentation and a
list of at least three references.
Blackboard
Course readings and other documents will be available through Blackboard on the UAF
website. A few of the readings will be locked pdfs and the password for these files is:
gr8 wine
Support Services
UAF library system, Departmental computer lab, on line wine and geology resources,
US Geological Survey.
Disabilities Services
All qualified students are welcome to take the class. Students with disabilities
should inform me during the first week of class, and contact UAF’s Office of
Disabilities Services (474-5655), so that we can accommodate your needs.
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Reading list
Alden, A., 2012, A Day of Total Terroir: Geology in the Wine Country, About.com,
http://geology.about.com/od/geology_ca/a/aa060699ab.htm/.
Bauer, A., 2007, Grape Expectations, Salon.com, http://www.salon.com/news/env/
environment/index.html?story=/mwt/food/eat_drink/2007/08/28/globalwarming_wine.
CK-12 Flexbook, Earth Science for High School, http://www.ck12.org/browse/earthscience/.
Gregutt, P., 2010, Washington Wines and Wineries, University of California Press,
Berkeley, CA, 331 p.
Hertsgaard, M., 2010, Grapes of Wrath, Mother Jones, http://motherjones.
com/environment/2010/04/climate-desk-wine-climate-changemarkHertsgaard.
Huggett, J.M., 2005, Geology and Wine: A Review, Proceedings of the Geologists
Association, v, 117, p. 239-247.
Kious, W.J. and Tilling, R.I., 1996, This Dynamic Earth: The Story of Plate Tectonics,
http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/dynamic.html#anchor10790904, on line resource.
Swinchatt, J., and Howell, D.G., 2004, The Wine Makers Dance: Exploring Terroir in the
Napa Valley, University of California Press, Berkeley, CA, 229 p.
Van Leeuwen, C., Friant, P., Choné, X., Tregoat, O., Koundouras, S., and
Dubourdieu, D., 2004, Influence of Climate, Soil, and Cultivar on Terroir,
American Journal of Eonology and Viticulture, v. 55, p. 207-217.
MacNeil, K., 2001, The Wine Bible, Workman Publishing Company, New York,
NY, 910 p.
Wilson, J.E., 1998, Terroir: The Role of Geology, Climate, and Culture in the Making of
Wine, University of California Press, Berkeley, CA, 336 p.
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